Joseph Richard Kollar

   Joseph Richard Kollar, 87, of Northern Cambria PA, passed away peacefully on January 13th after a long illness, with his wife holding his hand and his children at his side.

   Born February 18, 1938, to Joseph and Helen (Yesko) in Spangler, PA. in a booming coal mining town, he graduated from Barnesboro High School in 1955. His father was losing a battle to black lung and not wishing to suffer the same fate, he chose to support the family with odd jobs.

   At 22, he became the man of the house and within a year, was drafted into the army. He served two years as a military policeman at Fort Richie in Cascade, Maryland guarding Site R, the cold war presidential bunker. He met the love of his life, Patricia Kupetz, on a chance encounter while shooting darts with his buddies at a local pizza joint, and made the spontaneous promise to “marry that girl”. They wed two years later and would be together for 64 loyal years.

   After his service and with his first child already born, he moved his family near Cleveland seeking better opportunities.  He found his niche working for a Pella distributer where his woodworking skills were quickly recognized, and he began hand-crafting custom windows.

   By 1971, he missed the quietness of a rural life and being a true family man, traded in a 1964 ½ Ford Mustang for a Chevy station wagon and relocated everyone back to Barnesboro. He joined his father-in-law's business where he learned the plumbing, electrical and carpentry trades and used these to build his forever home.  When his employer retired, he opened his own successful business in partnership with his eldest son and namesake.

   During these years, he rarely missed a day of work and when he fell ill, refused to take even a single aspirin. Known for an uncompromising policy of doing a job right, he demanded that his coworkers adopt the same conviction. This pride in ownership was simply inherent to his character and the reputation that followed him into a well-deserved retirement in 2000.

   A proud Slovak, he relished the ethnic foods and traditions rooted in his childhood. Polkas were a Sunday staple and he was never happier than when celebrating with relatives at the countless Hromulak shindigs or golfing, especially with “brother” Jimmy. He was a devout Christian and lifelong parishioner of Prince of Peace Church, where he served as an altar boy and on the choir. His consultation on church remodeling projects, some he personally completed, was frequently sought.

   A self-described “average Joe”, his life is remembered through traditional and endearing acts. He raised his children as a disciplinarian, tempered by fairness. He would teach them how to fish, how to build and repair things in the spirit of self-reliance and who would stand eagerly in the crowd for every one of their school events. Gifted with humor, his sarcastic sports commentaries left you wondering if he ignored his comedic calling. He was known to regale everyone with the same stories so often that the first few familiar words from any one of them would prompt a room full of smiles and rolled eyes.  Foremost, he was simply a guy with a virtuous heart, the kindness to help others when he had little himself, and an unspoken devotion to his family. We miss him deeply already.

   In addition to his parents, Joseph is preceded in death by his sister Genevieve (Robert) Yingling. Survived by loving wife Patricia; sisters Barbara (Richard “Duke”) Dokar, Cleveland OH; Marcella (Nate) Thurmond, San Francisco CA; sons Joseph Kenneth (Linda) Kollar, Northern Cambria PA; Craig (Melanie) Kollar, Chambersburg PA; daughter Andrea Kollar, Parkhill PA; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

   The family expresses its endless gratitude to the Veteran’s Administration and 365 Hospice for their infinite patience and compassionate care.  A viewing will be held privately.  A funeral mass will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026, at Prince of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 811 Chestnut Ave. Northern Cambria with Father Mark Groeger officiating.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA), dementiasociety.org or Prince of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 811 Chestnut Ave., Northern Cambria, Pa 15714. 

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